The Starfield Empath trait is not well-explained during character creation. While it says that you will gain some kind of “temporary increase in combat effectiveness” when you do something a character likes, it’s unclear what that buff actually does. The same goes for the debuff if you do something that someone dislikes. Here’s a breakdown of what the effects of the Empath trait actually do and how to remove the trait altogether if you don’t want it.
What are the buff and debuff effects of Starfield Empath trait?
The Empath trait will give you the opportunity to gain the Self-Esteem buff and the Self-Doubt debuff effects.
If you perform an action or a choose a dialogue option that a character (typically, your companion) likes or loves, you will gain a 2-hour Self-Esteem buff. During this time, you will have an increased critical hit chance on attacks and a higher success chance for Persuasion speech challenges.
On the flipside, doing something a character dislikes or hates will hit you with a 2-hour Self-Doubt debuff. As the direct opposite of the Self-Esteem buff, it will decrease your critical hit chance and lower your success for Persuasion speech challenges.
How do you remove the Starfield Empath trait?
To remove the Empath trait, you can go to a doctor at an infirmary or Reliant Medical and select the option to get rid of it for 10,000 credits.
This will be useful for more evil runthroughs full with murder sprees and not really caring what any of your companions think. That said, it’s possible to maintain the Self-Esteem buff for long time just by being with a companion that suits your playstyle. It’s not hard to maintain the buff while you’re exploring a city with many opportunities to interact with NPCs, so the Empath trait is well worth keeping.
Starfield Empath Trait FAQ
A: The Empath trait allows you to experience the effects of the Self-Esteem buff and the Self-Doubt debuff. If you make choices or perform actions that a character appreciates, you receive the Self-Esteem buff, which increases your critical hit chance and boosts your odds in Persuasion speech challenges for 2 hours. Conversely, if you do something unfavorable, you’ll get hit with the Self-Doubt debuff, diminishing your critical hit rate and reducing your chances in Persuasion speech challenges for the same duration.
A: If you decide the Empath trait isn’t for you, you can have it removed by visiting a doctor at an infirmary or Reliant Medical. The removal will cost you 10,000 credits. Opting for this can be beneficial if you don’t want to be influenced by companion opinions, especially during more morally ambiguous playthroughs.
A: The Empath trait can be advantageous, especially if you’re paired with a companion that aligns with your playstyle. With frequent interactions in places like cities, it’s feasible to maintain the Self-Esteem buff consistently. Given the benefits it provides, many players may find it worthwhile to retain the trait.
For more Starfield guides, here’s how to unlock the stealth meter and how to gain the ability to boost in the air using a boost pack.
